This is a story of David and Goliath — except it's kale vs. chicken. Vermont folk artist Bo Muller-Moore is fighting charges of trademark infringement from the Atlanta-based fast-food chain Chick-fil-A.

Muller-Moore runs a T-shirt business from his Montpelier, Vt., studio around the phrase "Eat More Kale." He got the idea 10 years ago from a farmer friend who wanted to promote local agriculture — and sell more kale.

Each year, Muller-Moore sells thousands of T-shirts, and at $25 a pop he makes enough to support his family.

"At a very pragmatic level, people up here really seem to love the hell out of kale — or hate it," Muller-Moore said. "So, I hadn't even really thought in terms of competition."

Then in August, to prevent any copycats, he applied for a federal trademark. That's when Chick-fil-A accused him of infringing on its trademark, "Eat Mor Chikin." The fast-food chain said that, like any company, it must defend its brand as well as its award-winning ad campaign, which features cows encouraging consumers to opt for chicken over beef. In a statement, Chick-fil-A said the law doesn't allow it to distinguish between large and small businesses.

But Muller-Moore isn't giving up — and he's got some powerful allies.

At a packed news conference in downtown Montpelier, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin stood shoulder to shoulder with Muller-Moore as they launched Team Kale, an effort to raise money for Muller-Moore's defense through — what else — T-shirt sales.

"If you think that Vermonters don't understand the difference between kale and a chicken sandwich, we invite you to Vermont, and we'll give you a lesson about the difference between a kale and a chicken," Shumlin said. "There are some very distinct features that should be noticed in that difference. Kale is a vegetable; chickens are birds. Birds create manure; kale eats manure."

Chick-fil-A managers wouldn't comment for this story, but in a statement they said the company will continue to protect its trademark until Muller-Moore stops printing his kale T-shirts and turns over his website, eatmorekale.com.

So far, Muller-Moore's decision to fight Chick-fil-A has only been great for business. Over the weekend, he got so many orders that he's struggling to keep up — he's now working 14-hour days.

Win or lose, Shumlin said the Team Kale campaign is about sending Chick-fil-A's top brass a message.

"Don't mess with Vermont. Don't mess with kale. And, Chick-fil-A, get out of the way because we are going to win this one," he said.

Now, we have a kind of David and Goliath story. Actually, it's a kale and chicken story. A Vermont artist is fighting charges of trademark infringement from a large fast food chain. As Vermont Public Radio's Kirk Carapezza reports, the artist is not backing down. Instead, he's gaining support.

BO MULLER-MOORE: I take a spoonful of egg and I put it on top and I use my squeegee.

MULLER-MOORE: Rub the ink through and there you go. There's a brand new eat more kale t-shirt.

CARAPEZZA: He got the idea 10 years ago from a farmer who wanted to promote local agriculture and sell more kale. Now, each year, he sells thousands of these shirts, and at $25 a pop it's enough to support his family.

MULLER-MOORE: At a very pragmatic level, people up here really seem to love the hell out of kale or hate it. So I hadn't really even thought in terms of competition.

CARAPEZZA: But, in August, to prevent any copycats, he applied for a federal trademark. That's when the Southern fast food chain Chick-fil-A accused him of infringing on its trademark: eat mor chikin. The fast food chain says that, like any company, it must defend its brand and its award winning ad campaign. In a statement, Chick-fil-A says, the law doesn't allow it to distinguish between large and small businesses.

Muller-Moore isn't giving up and he's gaining some powerful allies.

GOVERNOR PETER SHUMLIN: Their camera range is narrow.

MULLER-MOORE: OK.

SHUMLIN: So you get used to this. It feels like...

MULLER-MOORE: I'm not bashful.

SHUMLIN: ...(unintelligible), but they're happy. Slide right in. All right.

CARAPEZZA: At a packed news conference in downtown Montpelier, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Muller-Moore as they launch Team Kale.

SHUMLIN: Don't mess with Vermont. We're going to win. Kale and Chick-fil-A, get out of the way.

CARAPEZZA: Win or lose, Shumlin says this grass roots campaign is about sending Chick-fil-A's top brass a message.

SHUMLIN: If you think that Vermonters don't understand the difference between kale and a chicken sandwich, we invite you to Vermont and we'll give you a lesson about the difference between a kale and a chicken. Kale is a vegetable. Chickens are birds. Birds create manure. Kale eats manure.

CARAPEZZA: Chick-fil-A managers wouldn't go on tape, but in a statement, they said they'll continue to protect their trademark until the artist stops printing his kale t-shirts and turns over his website, EatMoreKale.com.

So far, Muller-Moore's decision to fight Chick-fil-A has only been great for business. Over the weekend, he got so many orders that he's struggling to keep up. He's now working 14 hour days.